January - March 2013 - Sports

By: Chris Paul, Point Guard for the Los Angeles Clippers and Member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Making healthy choices is essential for me to function at the highest level, whether I’m on the road for a game or at home with my family. March is National Nutrition Month and is a great reminder for us all to incorporate healthy eating into our daily lives.

As I look back on 2012, I am amazed and proud of all that we have accomplished at the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN). It was a year of significant progress toward our mission to engage, educate, and empower all Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition.

I remember it clearly: I was 10, sitting in the back of our car. It was a hot day and I had my face pressed against the window. I was watching my eight-year-old brother try out for Little League and I was jumping out of my skin. It was killing me that I couldn’t try out. I could throw and catch pretty well ... and I was fast. Suddenly, my mom left the car and walked right up to one of the coaches. I watched as she talked, gesturing back at me. She ran back and opened the car door: “Okay, Karyn, you’re on!”

By: Lawrie Mifflin, Senior Editor for New Digital Initiatives, New York Times

I grew up in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. My first love was field hockey. So when I was accepted to Yale in 1969, I walked through the university gates with my hockey stick tucked under my arm. After signing up for college classes I wanted to try out for the team. I asked around and was surprised to hear that Yale didn’t have a women’s hockey team.

I grew up on a small farm in Connecticut in the 1940’s and 50’s. I was an only girl with four brothers. If they were clearing the pond for hockey, I’d scrape snow off the ice and jump in the game. Once I was 12, I helped bail boats out during hurricanes. I got drafted into all sorts of things. I loved being a part of everything—as long as it was outdoors.